Around Here editor/writer

A Decatur man, who blamed his fraudulent use of a man’s identity at an Oconee County store on his “father figure,” was recently charged with aggravated identity fraud.

An Oconee County sheriff’s deputy was called to the Verizon Wireless store on Epps Bridge Parkway at about 1 p.m. Wednesday after the suspect tried to use the identity of a Tallahassee, Fla., man to purchase two new cellphones along with phone service, deputies said.

As a deputy entered the store, the man started to leave, but was confronted by the officer, according to a sheriff’s report.

Craigory B. Kimber began sweating and explained that his father, whom he knew only as George, had brought him to the store to add a line of service to his phone account, the deputy said.

When the deputy noted it was odd that he knew him only as George, Kimber then explained he was only a “father figure.”

The officer then called the Florida resident, who replied that he didn’t know Kimber, nor did he have a Verizon account, according to the report.

Kimber, 27, was placed under arrest.

In an unrelated case, a 47-year-old Bishop man reported Friday that Verizon Wireless shut down his phone service.

Upon checking to find out why he discovered someone used his identity to purchase seven cellphones on his account.

The man told the deputy that Verizon is conducting its own investigation.

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